New degree option promotes undergraduate research

As part of the Quality Improvement Plan (QEP), the Undergraduate Research Committee approved a proposal on March 10 to enable undergrad students to earn a special degree with a research emphasis, similar to a co-op degree.

The Research Plan contained two parts, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and the Research Option, both currently awaiting approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. UROP was developed to expand the opportunities for undergraduate research at Georgia Tech. The Undergraduate Research Advisory Group (URAG) is in charge of overseeing all the processes of the UROP and the Research Option.

Dr. Lohmann, member of the URAG, said that the UROP still requires a qualified individual to occupy the position of the Undergraduate Research Director for the summer. The UROP is in charge of informing incoming students about Georgia Tech's research opportunities during orientation.

Professor Bruckman is the chair of the UROP and was able to provide detailed information on the committee's aims. "The UROP is attempting to include a Spring Research Symposium, an outlet in which students can showcase their research, within the agendas of different academic units. Currently, only the College of Computing holds this type of an event in the spring."

As a division of the UROP, the Research Option was created as a medium for in-depth research for undergraduates. Although the approval for the Quality Enhancement Plan will not come until December, students can prepare for it by starting with their intended research and signing up the Research Option when their specific school approves of it. A general outline has been constructed and approved; it is up to each academic unit whether to participate in the plan and make individual requirements for it. The College of Computing is the only academic unit that has currently approved the general outline.

The outline is composed of requirements that the students have to fulfill in order to incorporate the Research Option into their undergraduate career. First, the student must complete nine hours of supervised research, preferably over a period of at least two terms.

A two-hour class, "Writing an Undergraduate Thesis", is mandatory. During the course, the student must develop a thesis that accurately portrays the results of the research.

The thesis must be approved and graded by two faculty members and will be published in the Georgia Tech Library. Students may also have to present their thesis at a UROP symposium.

According to Dr. Leigh Bottomley, current administrator of the President's Undergraduate Award, the Research Option was already approved by the Senate and Undergraduate Committee and is now contingent upon the approval by individual majors at Tech. "It is also up to the specific majors to approve the Research Option and incorporate their own subjects of research."

The Research Option transcends the current opportunities for students who are pursuing undergraduate research.

Dr. McMath, Vice Provost of the Quality Enhancement Plan, said that the "very few students are provided with the in-depth opportunity to work with a professor and have it appear on their transcript."

Having an accomplishment directly on a students' transcript is beneficial for students who are going straight into the workforce or who are seeking to attend graduate school.

Several students had encouraging responses when asked to consider the Research Option.

Shivani Patel, a second-year Biology major, says that she would pursue the program. "It sounds pretty interesting because it would help someone stand out in applying to medical or dental school."

On the flip side, Brian Lockwood, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering major who currently helps with research for his department, had some reservations. He said, "[A research option] seems cool, but I don't think a thesis from undergrad work would be that valuable, just not in-depth.... The really good stuff involves really high level...special classes." He went on to say that the idea for a research option was "still cool. It will cement our research reputation."

Hopefully, Tech's Research Option will encourage emphasis in undergraduate research as an important hands-on learning tool. It is expected that each academic department will approve the plan and implement its own requirements by next December.